In this section you can find a wide range of information designed to raise awareness of abuse and the different forms this may take. As well as leaflets letting you know how to get help, this section also contains information about a number schemes designed to support people to keep safe.
Advocacy
The role of an advocate
An advocate is a person who supports and helps you to explain and say what you want. They help you to ensure that your views are heard, so that your problems can be sorted out.
They can help you:
- access information and services
- be involved in decisions about your life
- explore choices and options
- defend and promote your rights and responsibilities
- speak out about issues that matter to you
Information about Advocacy from Hampshire County Council can be found here:
Hampshire County Council Advocacy
Care Act advocacy in Hampshire is provided by Hampshire Advocacy – a partnership of 5 community based organisations working together to provide good quality independent advocacy in Hampshire.
- Choices Advocacy
- Havant and East Hants Mind
- Solent Mind
- Speakeasy Advocacy
- Winchester Gold
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Self-isolation advice
The poster below provides information for vulnerable adults, whilst self-isolating. The poster provides a reminder about keeping safe if offered support, or if an individual needs to seek help.
HSAB Coronavirus (COVID-19) Safeguarding Concerns Advice
The poster below provides information for people supporting vulnerable adults who are self-isolating, or being shielded, during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Community Partnership Information Sharing Forms
Sharing of information is critical to developing a clearer picture of local and wider issues, to inform the actions police need to take to reduce threat, harm and risk.
Hampshire Constabulary are seeking the support of partners, education staff and practitioners to share information known to them which, often without realisation, could provide crucial links where gaps in intelligence might exist.
To help improve information sharing, the CPI form gives professionals a safe and direct way to share non-urgent information with police relating to children/adults at risk of:
- Missing, Exploited, Trafficked
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Criminal Exploitation
- Drug Related Harm
- Modern Day Slavery
- Community Cohesion
- Anti-Social Behaviour
- Organised Crime
The CPI Form: Use and Process Summary
If the information known to you is non-urgent, not a crime and a child/adult is not at immediate risk, this is appropriate to be shared as police intelligence using the CPI form. The CPI form is not a referral form, it is for sharing non-urgent information only specific to the risks listed above.
Upon receipt of a CPI form, intelligence handlers assess it to determine the level of risk and priority, this process can amount to one of the following outcomes:
- CPI sanitised an intelligence log created – added to police systems for officer awareness/action
- If information details a crime, this is tasked to the crime desk for allocation to be investigated
- If there is a concern for safety, it will be referred to the relevant safeguarding services/teams
- In some cases, no action will be taken
For more information, and access to the CPI forms, please click here
Connect to Support
Connect to Support Hampshire is an online information and advice guide and directory of services for adult residents in Hampshire to find information, advice and services to manage their own care and wellbeing. You can find out about local groups, activities and services within your community as well as formal care provision.
Self Neglect Campaign 2018
The Care Act Guidance advises that ‘self neglect’ covers a wide range of behaviour including neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. Research literature states the term ‘self-neglect’ is commonly used to refer to:
- Lack of self-care: in personal hygiene, in adhering to daily needs, in refusal of essential care or necessary medical treatment.
- Lack of care of the living environment: hoarding, squalor and infestation.
Hampshire and IOW 4LSAB Multi-Agency Safeguarding Adults Policy provides guidance on responding to self neglect and persistent welfare concerns here:
Guidance on responding to self neglect and persistent welfare concerns
What to do if you are concerned about someone who is experiencing abuse or neglect:
Telephone Hampshire Adult Services: 0300 555 1386
or out of hours: 0300 555 1373
Police: 101 or in an emergency 999
Click on the link below to view and/or download the Self Neglect posters in various sizes:
Alerters Guide
A quick guide for alerters/referrers who have disclosure or expression of concern.
Buy with Confidence
Using a Buy with Confidence approved member is the best way to ensure a legal, honest and fair service if you need work doing around your home.
Financial Abuse and Scams: Guidance for Councillors, Directors, Managers and Social Work Practitioners
The NTS Scams Team are currently focussing on establishing a partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) to engage at a national level to improve local partnerships and operational delivery. Helping to raise awareness of abuse and improve safeguarding practices, ADASS, in partnership with the Local Government Association, Adult Principal Social Worker Network and National Trading Standards, has published guidance on financial abuse and scams, for Directors and people working in social care.
Top Tips – Financial Abuse and Scams
Fundraising Preference Service
In 2015, a Cross-Party Review of Fundraising Regulation recommended that a service should be set up for members of the public to control the nature and frequency of charity communications that they receive. The Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) has now been launched to ensure that people can easily manage these communications.
Further information and leaflets regarding the FPS and the link to their website are available below.
FPS Newsletter – Charity External Communications
FPS Newsletter – Charity Internal Communications
FPS Factsheet – Frontline Staff
Hampshire Police Direct Access Line
This registration only service designed to help people who find it difficult to use the 101 number because for example they:
- struggle to hold a telephone for a long time
- have a poor memory
- become easily confused, especially when stressed
- find it difficult to communicate
- struggle to understand people speaking too fast
The Direct Access Line reduces the amount of time you have to wait to speak with a call-taker. The person who answers your call will already have an understanding of your or your carer’s background. You can register important details and information with us in confidence, such as your next-of-kin, which may help us in an emergency.
Hampshire Police Direct Access Line
Hate Crime – A guide for those affected
A guide has been created jointly by Tell MAMA and Community Security Trust regarding Hate Crime.
The guide should be used by anybody who has suffered any kind of hate crime, which can occur due to race, religion, sexuality, age, disability, gender or any other characteristic.
Third Party Reporting Centres
It is widely accepted that hate crimes are under reported. Not all victims are comfortable with reporting their experiences directly to the police. Possible reasons for this may include:
- Lack of awareness of ways to report hate crime
- Victims find visiting police stations intimidating or daunting
- Victims believe the police won’t believe them or take them seriously
- Individuals are unaware they are victims of hate crimes
- Lack of support to help victims make a report, e.g. interpreters
- Victims fear being outed in terms of their sexuality or disability
Third Party Reporting Centres (TPRCs) overcome these barriers by providing an alternative to directly reporting to the police, without which a number of hate incidents and crimes would never be reported or recorded.
Visit the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s webpage on Third Party Reporting Centres here:
Third Party Reporting Centres Poster:
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.
This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).
Guidance on how to make, register or end an LPA
Office of the Public Guardian’s lasting power of attorney campaign
The Office of the Public Guardian’s (OPG) lasting power of attorney (LPA) campaign promotes the importance and benefits of making an LPA. The campaign also clears up some of the myths around LPAs. Click on the pictures below for full-sized versions of the campaign posters and leaflets.
Further information is available from the Office of the Public Guardian here:
Lasting Power of Attorney OPG Campaign
Loneliness and Social Isolation Campaign 2019
Over 9 million people in the UK across all adult ages – more than the population of London – are either always or often lonely. Half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all.
If you know someone is lonely or socially isolated, they may be vulnerable, or open to forms of abuse such as mate crime. There is help and resources available to them. The HSAB campaign for 2019 addresses loneliness and social isolation. For more information visit www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk or to report a concern please contact Hampshire Adults Health & Care on 0300 555 1386.
Click on the links below to view and/or download the posters for the 2019 Loneliness and Social Isolation Campaign:
Mail Preference Service
The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is a free service set up 20 years ago and funded by the direct mail industry to enable consumers to have their names and home addresses in the UK removed from lists used by the industry. It is actively supported by the Royal Mail and all directly involved trade associations and fully supported by The Information Commissioners Office. The MPS Consumer File is a list of names and addresses of consumers who have informed the service they wish to limit the amount of direct mail they receive. The use of the Consumer File by list-owners and users is a requirement of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. It is also a condition under the Code of Practice of the Direct Marketing Association. Registration with the MPS will prevent the receipt of unsolicited direct mailings sent from member companies of the Direct Marketing Association and we will take steps to prevent the receipt of unsolicited direct mailings from companies which are non members. It will not stop mail that has been sent from overseas, un-addressed material or mail addressed to The Occupier. You can expect to continue to receive mailings from companies with whom you have done business in the past. You may also receive mailings from small, local companies. If you wish these mailings to be stopped, you must notify these companies directly. It will take up to 4 months for the Service to have full effect although you should notice a reduction in mail during this period. Registering with the MPS is FREE. Click below to find out more about this service and how it can help protects against unsolicited direct mailings.
Making Money Matter
Making Money Matter provides vital information to people with a learning disability about consumer rights and includes useful tips on managing a budget and avoiding the pitfalls of debt. A resource pack is available comprising A DVD which features topics such as shopping, doorstep sales and credit cards. A booklet covering a wide range of subjects in more detail to assist anybody who supports a person with learning difficulties. Topics are covered in brief with helpful links to places to go for more information. Also included are a number of summaries providing information in an easier to read format. The pack has been produced in partnership between Trading Standards, Adult Services and other agencies. It is free to anyone in Hampshire. It can be obtained Trading Standards: Montgomery House, Monarch Way, Winchester SO22 5PW Tel: 01962 833640
Mate Crime
Mate crime occurs when a person is harmed or taken advantage of by someone they thought was their friend. Mate Crime can become a very serious form of abuse. In some cases victims of Mate Crime have been badly harmed or even killed. Surveys indicate that people with disabilities can often become the targets of this form of exploitation.
Different types of Mate Crime
- Theft/financial abuse – The abuser might demand or ask to be lent money and then not pay it back. The perpetrator might mis-use the property of the vulnerable adult.
- Physical assault/abuse – the abuser might hurt or injure the vulnerable adult.
- Harassment or emotional abuse – the abuser might manipulate, mis-lead and make the person feel worthless.
- Sexual assault/abuse – the abuser might harm or take advantage of the person sexually.
What to do if you think you or someone you know is a victim of Mate Crime?
Contact the police or Hampshire County Council Adult Services on 0300 555 1386.
If you would like advice about Mate Crime call the Hampshire County Council Safeguarding Helpline: 01962 847214 or email: adult.services@hants.gov.uk
Click on the link below for guidance on mate crime:
Click on the link below to view a presentation on mate crime developed for professionals:
Mate Crime Presentation developed for Professionals
Click on the link below to view a presentation on mate crime developed for service users:
Mate Crime Presentation developed for Service Users
Click on the link below to view the Mate Crime Poster in various sizes:
The video below is an extract from the play “Living Without Fear” by Blue Apple Theatre:
No Cold Calling Zones
No Cold Calling Zones help combat the problem of doorstep crime. They can deter unscrupulous cold callers from approaching people living in the zones, but more importantly, they can give people the confidence to say “No”. Whilst the zones do not ban cold callers or create exclusion zones, they can be useful in dealing with any unwelcome cold callers.
Safe and Well
The post below provides information on the Safe and Well visits offered by Hampshire Fire and Rescue :
Safe Car Wash App
The Safe Car Wash app is a new tool that will enable the largest community intelligence gathering exercise ever attempted in the United Kingdom.
Download the free app onto your smartphone. When you are using a hand car wash, simply open the app and complete a short survey about the working conditions of the car wash.
The app will ask a series of questions related to the indicators of modern slavery and if there is a high likelihood that modern slavery is occurring in the hand car wash, you will be asked to report your concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline. The data the app collects will be anonymised and shared with the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority, two law enforcement agencies who are leading on efforts to stamp out modern slavery across the UK.
Further information and a link to download the app can be found here:
https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/safecarwash
Safer Places
The Safer Places scheme aims to provide vulnerable people, and particularly those with a learning disability, with a safe place to go to where help can be summoned if they are feeling scared or upset while out on their own in the community.
Hampshire is a safe place to live in and visit but unfortunately, sometimes, vulnerable people might be victims of bullying or harassment when they go out. There might also be occasions when they become lost or separated from their carer or simply disorientated.
Vulnerable people can request a card where they can write their name and the phone number of their trusted person(s) from their local co-ordinator (below). They carry this card with them and if needed, they can show this card to the Safe Place staff who will make the phone call for them to someone they trust, who will either come and collect them or advise them on what they need to do.
The Safe Places in the scheme are easily identified by the yellow logo displayed in the front window. Click here to find out how to find more and to join the scheme:
Scams
- Are misleading or fraudulent offers designed to con you out of money
- Are received by post, email, telephone, text or face to face
HSAB Financial Abuse Campaign 2017
Financial Abuse Leaflet A5 
Financial Abuse Leaflet A5 High Contrast
Financial Abuse Poster 1 A4 
Financial Abuse Poster 1 A4 High Contrast
Financial Abuse Poster 2 A4 
Financial Abuse Poster 2 A4 High Contrast
Financial Abuse Factsheet
Stop Loan Sharks: Illegal Money Lending
Over 310,000 households in the UK use illegal money lenders every year. Unauthorised lenders, or loan sharks as they are more commonly known in the UK operate a money lending business without permission from the Financial Conduct Authority and are acting illegally. The guide is to aid Health and Social Care Professionals.
Stop the Traffik
Below are a selection of resources from Stop the Traffik.
Telephone Preference Service
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free service. It is the official central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so. Registration is FREE. Click below to find out more about this service and how it can help protects against unsolicited marketing calls.
Slingshot
